2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 1. "Always" — i.e., absolutely permanent. The same word is used of the angels, who always behold the face of God; and of Christ, who "foresaw the Lord always before Him." The constancy of the Christian's peace is to be the same as that wherewith angels wait on the behests of God and Jesus realizes God's presence. 2. "In every manner." There are different modes and circumstances of its manifestation, according as the heart is burdened with anxiety, or depressed with a sense of sin, or feverish with excitement, or distracted by business. We may taste it in every form, according to the special need of the moment. 3. The Lord of Peace, its Author and Source, is called upon to bestow it (John 14:27; Philippians 4:4-7). 4. This peace is a main essential to holiness; it is not only the root out of which it grows, but the strength in which alone it can be successfully pursued, and the element in which it moves. Its spheres are — I. THE CONSCIENCE. 1. It must be admitted by faith in Christ — such an act as shall shed abroad in the heart a sense of God's pardoning love. This act is simply a cordial acceptance of God's gift of Christ. Having performed this, we place ourselves in the condition described in Romans 5:1. 2. But it must be detained. It is a sensitive guest, apt to take flight at the slightest affront, The conscience, once cleared by faith, must be kept clear by effort, the use of appropriate means, sad repeated acts of faith. "Herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence." But as faults will accrue, we need for the maintenance of peace periodical examinations of the conscience. II. THE HEART. Peace under the vexations and frettings of life. 1. This fretting may arise from anxieties, the right method of dealing with which is in Philippians 4:4-7. Whatever may be your wishes on the subject which makes you anxious, refer them to God in prayer; and having done so, leave them with Him, assured that He will order the matter for the best. Drop them altogether. They are off your hands now, and are in better hands. They are no longer your business; they need not be your care. Thinking is utterly fruitless, and fruitless thinking is waste of the energy needed for progress, and is also a positive breach of God's precept — "Be careful for nothing." The spiritual life of the present moment is the one thing needful. As for future evil, it may never come; and if it does, it will prove less in reality than in anticipation. The women going to the sepulchre troubled themselves unnecessarily about the stone, for it was rolled away. 2. This discomposure may arise from things going cross in daily life, rubs of temper, annoyance, etc. The rule for the maintenance of peace is here the same. Never let your thoughts dwell on a matter in which another has made you sore. If you do, a hundred aggravations will spring up. With a brief prayer for him who has offended you, keep your thoughts away from what he has done. Try to realize God's presence. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." But the great point is to let the mind settle. Turbid liquids will clear themselves, and precipitate their sediment simply by standing. Be still, then. Conclusion: 1. Those who indulge fretful feelings, either of anxiety or irritation, give an opening to the devil in their hearts. "Fret not thyself, else thou shalt be moved to do evil." "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil." Peace is the sentinel of the soul; only so long as this sentinel is on guard the castle is kept secure. 2. Be careful to maintain peace, if thou wouldst not only resist the devil, but receive the guidance of God's Spirit. That Spirit cannot make communications to a soul in a turbulent state. The Lord is not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. Not until these have passed, can His still small voice be heard. (Dean Goulburn.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.WEB: Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. |
    |